Hardware accelerated data frame forwarding
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of forwarding a data frame, the method comprising:
- using a Fiber Channel Forwarder to program a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge to recognize address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein the bridge element is configured to encapsulate and de-encapsulate data frame data, wherein the bridge element is coupled to an integrated switch router and a local rack interconnect network, wherein the integrated switch router facilitates routing and packet delivery to and from the local rack interconnect network, and wherein the local rack interconnect network includes point-to-point connections between the plurality of bridge elements;
evaluating header data of a Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the bridge element to determine whether the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein evaluating the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame includes evaluating whether the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame includes the address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder from the programming by the Fiber Channel Forwarder;
in response to determining that the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, modifying the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the bridge element to give an appearance that the Fiber Channel Forwarder is sending the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to a target computing node; and
forwarding the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame from the bridge element to the target computing node without forwarding the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to the Fiber Channel Forwarder.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods to forward data frames are described. A particular method may include evaluating header data of a data frame at a bridge element, where the header data includes address data that corresponds to a Fiber Channel Forwarder in communication with the bridge element. Based upon the evaluation, the header data of the data frame may be modified at the bridge element in such a manner that the data frame is not routed through the Fiber Channel Forwarder.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of forwarding a data frame, the method comprising:
-
using a Fiber Channel Forwarder to program a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge to recognize address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein the bridge element is configured to encapsulate and de-encapsulate data frame data, wherein the bridge element is coupled to an integrated switch router and a local rack interconnect network, wherein the integrated switch router facilitates routing and packet delivery to and from the local rack interconnect network, and wherein the local rack interconnect network includes point-to-point connections between the plurality of bridge elements; evaluating header data of a Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the bridge element to determine whether the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein evaluating the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame includes evaluating whether the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame includes the address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder from the programming by the Fiber Channel Forwarder; in response to determining that the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, modifying the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the bridge element to give an appearance that the Fiber Channel Forwarder is sending the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to a target computing node; and forwarding the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame from the bridge element to the target computing node without forwarding the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to the Fiber Channel Forwarder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
9. An apparatus comprising:
-
a Fiber Channel Forwarder configured to program a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge to recognize address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein the bridge element is configured to encapsulate and de-encapsulate data frame data, wherein the bridge element is coupled to an integrated switch router and a local rack interconnect network, wherein the integrated switch router facilitates routing and packet delivery to and from the local rack interconnect network, and wherein the local rack interconnect network includes point-to-point connections between the plurality of bridge elements; and the bridge element configured to evaluate header data of a Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the bridge element to determine whether the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, to evaluate the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame by evaluating whether the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame includes the address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder from the programming by the Fiber Channel Forwarder, in response to determining that the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, to modify the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the bridge element to give an appearance that the Fiber Channel Forwarder is sending the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to a target computing node, and to forward the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame from the bridge element to the target computing node without forwarding the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to the Fiber Channel Forwarder. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
14. An apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of server computers including a plurality of adapters located within the plurality of server computers or coupled to the plurality of server computers; and a distributed virtual bridge comprising; a Fiber Channel Forwarder configured to program at least one bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements to recognize address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein the bridge element is configured to encapsulate and de-encapsulate data frame data; the plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers via the plurality of adapters and coupled to an integrated switch router and a local rack interconnect network, wherein the integrated switch router facilitates routing and packet delivery to and from the local rack interconnect network, and wherein the local rack interconnect network includes point-to-point connections between the plurality of bridge elements; and the at least one bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements configured to evaluate header data of a Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the at least one bridge element to determine whether the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, to evaluate the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame by evaluating whether the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame includes the address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder from the programming by the Fiber Channel Forwarder, in response to determining that the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, to modify the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the at least one bridge element to give an appearance that the Fiber Channel Forwarder is sending the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to a target computing node, and to forward the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame from the at least one bridge element to the target computing node without forwarding the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to the Fiber Channel Forwarder. - View Dependent Claims (16, 24)
-
-
15. A program product, comprising:
-
program code configured to be executed by a processor to; evaluate header data of a Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge to determine whether the header data is addressed to a Fiber Channel Forwarder, including to evaluate the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame by evaluating whether the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame includes address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder from the programming by the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein the Fiber Channel Forwarder is configured to program the bridge element to recognize the address data corresponding to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, wherein the bridge element is configured to encapsulate and de-encapsulate data frame data, wherein the bridge element is coupled to an integrated switch router and a local rack interconnect network, wherein the integrated switch router facilitates routing and packet delivery to and from the local rack interconnect network, and wherein the local rack interconnect network includes point-to-point connections between the plurality of bridge elements, in response to determining that the header data is addressed to the Fiber Channel Forwarder, modify the header data of the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame at the bridge element to give an appearance that the Fiber Channel Forwarder is sending the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to a target computing node, and forward the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame from the bridge element to the target computing node without forwarding the Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame to the Fiber Channel Forwarder; and a computer readable non-transitory medium bearing the program code. - View Dependent Claims (17, 25)
-
Specification